Moisture management bed sheet

ABSTRACT

A moisture management bed sheet for providing enhance moisture wicking properties without compromising structural strength may define a moisture wicking top sheet or a moisture wicking bottom sheet includes a frame portion disposed around the perimeter, a body portion of moisture wicking material, and a plurality of internal supports which attached to the frame portion and pass through the body portion. The body portion, which forms the primary covering (or laying) area under where a user would typically be when positioned on a mattress, is constructed of a conventional wicking fabric material. As the wicking fabric material may have a decreased tensile strength than conventional bed sheet materials, the frame portion and internal supports are operative to enhance the structural strength of the moisture management bed sheet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to bedding and sheets and, moreparticularly, to a reinforced sheet which includes moisture managementproperties.

Description of the Prior Art

The design and use of a conventional bed sheets defining the clothbodies that are used either to cover a mattress (i.e. a bottom sheet) orthose sleeping upon the mattress (i.e. a top sheet) is well known.Typically, the bottom sheet is fitted with elastic so as to keep it inplace when on top of a mattress, while the top sheet is defined by amore defined rectangular shape and a uniform construction. While bedsheets are commonly made of varying materials, such as cotton, linen,satin, silk, rayon, bamboo fibre, polypropylene spunbond, and blends ofcotton with polyester, a problem which still exists is that any typicalbed sheets are not generally adapted to wick moisture away from the bodyof a user. Indeed, because pressure ulcers, also known as bed sores, areexacerbated by moisture it is well established protocol to rotatehospital patients that have difficulty moving and to change theirbedding and cloth often to prevent the accumulation of moisture asperspiration in locations of pressure ulcers. Thus, there remains a needfor a moisture management bed sheet which includes conventional moisturewicking fabric that operates to move a user's perspiration from theirskin to the opposite side of the sheet. It would be helpful if such amoisture management bed sheet included a external frame of a naturalfabric so as to provide enhanced structural integrity relative to asheet completely constructed of moisture wicking material. It would beadditionally desirable for such a moisture management bed sheet toinclude internal supports of conventional material which operated tofurther enhance the strength of the sheet.

The Applicant's invention described herein provides for a moisturemanagement bed sheet adapted to remove moisture from the surface of auser's skin on contact without absorbing and retaining the same. Theprimary aspects of Applicant's moisture management bed sheet are a frameportion, a body portion and a plurality of internal supports. When inoperation, the moisture management bed sheet enables more effective andefficient moisture management for not just the bed ridden but anyone whomay be prone to sweating in their sleep. As a result, many of thelimitations imposed by prior art structures are removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A moisture management bed sheet for providing enhance moisture wickingproperties without compromising structural strength. The moisturemanagement bed sheet, which may define a moisture wicking top sheet or amoisture wicking bottom sheet, comprises a frame portion disposed aroundthe perimeter, a body portion of moisture wicking material, and aplurality of internal supports which attached to the frame portion andpass through the body portion. The body portion, which forms the primarycovering (or laying) area under where a user would typically be whenpositioned on a mattress, is constructed of a conventional wickingfabric material. As the wicking fabric material may have a decreasedtensile strength than conventional bed sheet materials, the frameportion and internal supports are operative to enhance the structuralstrength of the moisture management bed sheet.

It is an object of this invention to provide a moisture management bedsheet which includes conventional moisture wicking fabric that operatesto move a user's perspiration from their skin to the opposite side ofthe sheet.

It is another object of this invention to provide a moisture managementbed sheet which includes a external frame of a natural fabric so as toprovide enhanced structural integrity relative to a sheet completelyconstructed of moisture wicking material.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a moisturemanagement bed sheet which includes internal supports of conventionalmaterial which operated to further enhance the strength of the sheet.

These and other objects will be apparent to one of skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a top sheet embodiment of a moisturemanagement bed sheet built in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a bottom sheet embodiment of a moisturemanagement bed sheet built in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings and in particular FIGS. 1 and 2, amoisture management bed sheet is shown as a moisture wicking top sheet10 and a moisture wicking bottom sheet 20. The moisture wicking topsheet 10, which may be sized as a conventional top bed sheet, includes aframe portion 11, a body portion 12 and a plurality of internal supports13. In the preferred embodiment, the frame portion 11 and internalsupports 13 each define a section of natural fabric material, such ascotton, and the body portion 12 defines a section of wicking fabricmaterial, such as a polyester blends which is woven such that moistureis forced into and through the gaps in the weave towards one side of theexterior surface of the material.

As such wicking fabric material may have a decreased tensile strengthrelative to conventional bet sheet material, it is contemplated that theframe portion 11 operates to provide enhanced support around theperimeter of the moisture wicking top sheet 10, particularly in theareas where the moisture wicking top sheet 10 may be pulled or tucked bya user. It is further contemplated that the internal supports 13 operateto provide enhanced internal support to the moisture wicking top sheet10 so as to tension forces resulting from a user pulling the frameportion 11. It is appreciated that the diagonal orientation of theinternal supports 13 is operative to provide support against both normal(perpendicular) stress and shear stress exerted from any side of themoisture wicking top sheet 10.

It is contemplated, that in various embodiments, the frame portion 11and internal supports 13 may define an alternate conventional sheetmaterial that has an increased tensile strength relative to the bodyportion 12.

It is appreciated that the moisture wicking top sheet 10 may beconstructed in various sizes for use on different sized beds, or sizedfor use in other lying or seated applications.

Similar to the moisture wicking top sheet 10, the moisture wickingbottom sheet 20, includes a frame portion 21, a body portion 22 and aplurality of internal supports 23. It is contemplated that the bodyportion 22 and internal supports 23 are construct and operative in amanner similar to those elements in the moisture wicking top sheet 10.The frame portion 21 of the moisture wicking bottom sheet 20, however,may include conventional fitting elements 24 which allow it to holditself in place when on top of a conventional mattress or otherstructure. It is appreciated that these fitting elements 24 areadvantageously integrated with the frame portion 21 as the strongestportion of the moisture wicking bottom sheet 20, understanding they willbe pulled and stretched.

It is contemplated that although the moisture wicking bottom sheet 20may not allow for substantial evaporation of moisture under a locationthat a user was presently disposed, it would allow for fasterevaporation once the user moved (in addition to providing the wickingeffect.

The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what isconsidered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It isrecognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within thescope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to aperson skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A moisture management bed sheet, comprising: asheet body having a frame portion, a body portion and at least oneinternal support; said frame portion defining a contiguous perimeter ofthe sheet body which is constructed of a natural woven fabric; said bodyportion fully contained by the contiguous perimeter formed by said frameportion and constructed of a wicking fabric material having a first sideand an opposing second side and which is woven such that moisture whichcontacts the first side is forced into and through gaps in the weavetowards the second side; and said at least one internal support definingan elongated support connected at each end to the frame portion,extending across the body portion, and constructed of a natural wovenfabric.
 2. The moisture management bed sheet of claim 1, wherein said atleast one internal support extends linearly through said body portion.3. The moisture management bed sheet of claim 2, wherein said sheet bodyincludes a plurality of internal supports.
 4. The moisture managementbed sheet of claim 3, wherein said internal supports internal supportsintersect while extending through said body portion.
 5. The moisturemanagement bed sheet of claim 1, wherein said sheet body includes aplurality of internal supports.
 6. The moisture management bed sheet ofclaim 5, wherein said internal supports internal supports intersectwhile extending through said body portion.
 7. The moisture managementbed sheet of claim 1, wherein said frame portion includes at least oneelastic fitting element.